As we begin the new year, Converge churches and missionaries from around the globe will embark on 21 Days of Prayer. Join us on this prayer journey by reading the daily entries on Converge’s blog, or by downloading your free 21 Days of Prayer: Praying God’s Agenda prayer guide. In addition, you can share daily posts from our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter feeds. Thank you for joining us as we open 2020 in prayer together.
Submit to the One who said, “Take up your cross and follow me.”
Luke 9:22-27
“The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” 23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
Notice
The cross and the Easter resurrection of Jesus are the very heart of our gospel. When our King Jesus died for us, he opened wide for us the door to his kingdom. It is the King’s Agenda for us now to turn from self-directed living to cross-centered living (“deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me”). The temptation Jesus describes here is to go hard after this world’s agenda, whatever that might be, even gaining it but, in the process, losing one’s self. We might “gain” something temporarily, like money, power, earthly pleasure or success, but if our soul is lost, if eternity with Jesus is lost, woe to us. Instead, our King says, “Follow me.”
Think about it
Our sin nature is selfish. When we repent and trust Jesus, the King calls us to live a cross-centered life of walking with him. We turn in a new direction and submit to the King’s Agenda. What is that agenda? Certain things are common to all of us: following the clear commands of the King from Scripture, fellowship with the church (his body), using our spiritual gifts. Others are more individual: what our gifts are and how we use them, where we live, who we relate to in discipleship or service. How are you submitting to the King’s Agenda for your life?
A prayer of submission to the King
“It amazes me, Father, that today I can walk with King Jesus in a life of joyful service to you. Thank you for giving me this life, with a place and people, a context for using my gifts and time and energy for your kingdom agenda. Help me today to notice the opportunities you place in front of me. Help me to serve others with gladness, with the strength you supply me, communicating the love of Jesus. Take my life, Father, and let it be set apart to you and your agenda for the benefit of others and the building up of your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
To read more of God’s word
Psalm 27, Romans 12, I Peter 4
